Page 51 of So I Dared a Dragon

“He didn’t kiss me. Doesn’t that automatically mean the date is a failure?” The date, of course, had been preempted by the news of the note, and Aarix’s need to protect me.

Bibi’s cheeks turned as red as her favorite signature lipstick.

“Okay, spill it.” I took the seat closest to her on the couch. “There’s no way you just came from a production meeting.”

“No.” Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard. I’d never seen Bibi nervous before. “Hugo and I are back together.”

“That’s so exciting! What happened?”

“When we got word…we went to his house, hoping to find information about the dragons. And Calista, I wanted to run out of there the moment I walked in. It was so…him. His scent was everywhere. It was overwhelming. And all I could think of was, what if I never see him again? And then he walked in—”

“Wait. You broke into his house?” I might have loved this little detail.

“I have a key,” she said. “Anyway, he kissed me like I was the oxygen he needed to breathe. And I felt like I could tell him all those things I didn’t have words for. Neither of us wanted to stop.”

“I love this so much.” I got up and hugged her. “You look so happy. I’m so glad the two of you were able to work things out. I hated how sad you were without Hugo, and even more that I felt like I was the reason the two of you broke up.”

“You weren’t, I was.” She smiled sadly.

I went back to the couch, leaning against the cushion. “You know, that confirms it. Aarix isn’t that into me.”

Ugh. This felt so traitorous.

“What on earth brought this on? He gave you that.” She leaned forward, and I held out my arm for her to examine. “Has there been any changes with them?”

“Still the same.” I sighed. “What if he gave me these scales to avoid kissing me?”

“What would make you feel better about this?” Bibi couldn’t resist a little romance.

“We go out on the next date as soon as possible.” My plan was officially in play. “I need to kiss him again, Bibi. You know how it felt when you thought you might never kiss Hugo again.”

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.” She frowned. “Production thinks it might be better if we slowed the dates down while we find who was threatening you.”

It was a strong point, and probably the most responsible idea, but time was our frenemy. “What if Aarix figures out I’m more trouble than I’m worth while we find these answers?”

“I assure you, that won’t happen.”

“But you were convinced you’d lost Hugo forever,” I reminded her. “You did your best to act like everything was okay, but you didn’t have to do that for me. I knew that sparkly heart of yours had been torn in two. Meanwhile, we all knew the two of you are destined to be together. You can fight me all you want on this, Bibi—but I know you would’ve never believed me until you kissed that wolf.”

“You’re right,” she said with a contented sigh.

I cocked a brow. “Does that mean we can start planning the next date?”

“Traditionally, the chosen partner is the one who plans the second date, so you can get to know him better.”

“But Aarix is still so unfamiliar with modern life,” I countered. Someday, that would no longer be true. “And so focused on freeing the dragons.”

I wished I could tell her what had just happened. I hated keeping secrets. But I didn’t know what I’d discovered in that journal, and I had a feeling it was for Aarix’s eyes only. I didn’t want anyone to take it away from me.

“We should really get those scales checked before we do anything else—”

The scales throbbed—in warning? Confirmation?

“—I’m concerned about your wolf.” If Bibi had said anything else, I’d totally missed it.

I scoffed and shook my head. “What good has a Montana wolf ever done?”

Bibi’s face fell. “I like to think I’ve done some good things. And you have too.”

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